Cigars are on O’Brien after Dewhurst rout
Churchill enjoyed his finest hour to give Aidan O’Brien more Group 1 glory in the Dewhurst at Newmarket.
Sent off a 8-11 favourite despite sweating up before the race, the son of Galileo was quickly settled in midfield by Ryan Moore as his pacemaker Lancaster Bomber (66-1) made the running.
Moore was forced to switch Churchill wide in search of a gap a furlong out but that did not stop him powering home a length clear of his stablemate with Blue Point (8-1) third.
O’Brien said: “We were very happy with that and I feel that Churchill learnt a lot today. He’s a very relaxed horse and doesn’t do a lot in front.
“He has a super mind on him and has plenty of pace so we’ll look forward to next year with him.
“It’s a team effort and my son Donnacha rides him out at home. We’ll have a chat to the lads but he’ll be a nice horse to bring back here next May.”
Churchill is now the 2-1 favourite with Ladbrokes for next year’s 2000 Guineas back at HQ while Hills cut him to 6-1 jolly from 12s for the 2017 Epsom Derby.
Sweet Selection (7-1) showed her rivals no quarter with a spectacular Cesarewitch success.
Off icially 17lbs well in at the weights , Hughie Morr ison’s strong- travel l ing f i l ly cruised clear under Silvestre de Sousa to beat First Mohican (50-1) by three lengths.
Sea Of Heaven (8-1) took third ahead of The Cashel Man (9-1) while 13-2 joint favourites St Michel and Starchitect were both disappointing down the field.
Morrison said: “I’m a shocking judge. I spent the whole of last year thinking that she was a 1m2f filly. This time last year she was rated 65 and had only won once.
“She is incredibly tough but Silvestre said he was beat five out. It was a great ride and I’m delighted for her owner Paul Brocklehurst.
“She just outstayed them. That was the plan. There are not many races beyond two miles. We will keep her in training and have some fun next year.
“The great thing about her is she is so relaxed and takes nothing out of herself. We do very little with her at home.”
Best Solution (12-1) looked a very nice prospect when claiming the Autumn Stakes for Godolphin.
Saeed bin Suroor’s juvenile was sent into the lead two out by William Carson and stayed on strongly to beat Zainhom (16-1) by two lengths with 11- 4 jolly The Anvil third.
Best Solution is now a 33-1 chance with most firms for next season’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas.
Jockey Henry Brooke was taken to hospital by air ambulance after a crashing fall at Hexham.
The rider was kicked by another horse after parting company with Old Storm in the novice chase. The pair were in the lead when they came to grief at the second fence.
Brooke was being treated in Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for a fractured collarbone and an injury to his lung.